Apparatus for treating feet and the like



March 3, 1942, w. c. RAs'r 2,274,739

APPARATUS FOR TREATQENG FEET AND T HE- LIKE Filed Aug.v 2l, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wreef.

March 3,1942. v C, RAST 2,274,739

y.APPARATUS FOR TREATING FEET AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 21, 1939 2 sheets-'sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 2,274,739 APPARATUS Fon TREATING FEET AND THE William C. Rast, Seattle, Wash.

Application August 21, 1939, Serial No. 291,142

2 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for treating feet and the like, the primary object of the invention being the provision of an improved apparatus of the character indicated which is of simple construction and highly eilicientin use. Y

Another object of the invention is the provision ofan improved apparatus of the character indicated especially adapted for the treatment of the feet to prevent the spread of disease or infections and which is of simple construction and highly efficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and A arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 an end View of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 a section taken substantially on line 4 5 'of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 an enlarged vertical section taken through one of two air compressors employed in the apparatus; l

Fig. 6 a sectional view taken substantially at right angles to Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 a partial top plan view corresponding with Fig. 5.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a suitable base I9 hav- *ngtwcgverticallyiwinging platforms II mounted thereon. Said platfcrmsasshownnallermadecup.

of a plurality of closely spaced longitudinal slats or bars to provide an openwork 'support through which liquids will readily pass. Each platform is pivoted at I2 on said base and is normally held in elevated position by means of a compression spring 2|, the downward movement of the free or swinging end of each platform being limited and cushioned by rubber bumpers I4 secured, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, to the undersides of platforms II. Suitable aprons or covers I5 and I6 are provided over the bars of the platforms at each end, but the central portions thereof are uncovered to permit of free passage of liquid spray and draining.

Arranged under the central or openwork portions of the platforms II is a closed tank I1 having a sloping bottom I8 and air compressors I9 are mounted in the deep end of said tank as shown. A drain shield or cover I'I' is arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to protect the contents of tank Il from contamination by drainings from platforms I5. A piston or plunger 20 is arranged to operate in each air compressor I9 and is normally held in elevated position by means of the compression spring 2I. Each piston 20 is carried by a piston rod 22 protruding from the top of the cylinder and contacting with the under side of an operating bar 23 secured as shown to the under side of the corresponding platform II. The arrangement is such that when a person steps upon or walks across the platforms II, the same will be caused to swing downwardly thereby compressing the air in the cylinders I9 for a purpose to be presently described.

Air tubes 24 lead vertically from the bottom of each cylinder I9 on opposite sides thereof and at their upper ends are bent horizontally to project blasts of air over the tops of atomizing supply tubes 25 having their lower ends 26 bent to rest along the bottom of the deep end of the tank I'I. Suitable hoods 21 are arranged as shown over the upper. ends of the tubes 24 and 25 so as to better direct the atomized spray over the platforms II.

A suitable filling cap 28 is arranged as shown for the introduction into the tank II of a suitable prophylactic medicinal solution or the like for treatment of the feet to prevent the spread of infectious parasitic diseases or the like.

In use and in operation, the apparatus is placed in a doorway through which persons must pass from and to showers, lockers and the like in athletic or sporting buildings. A person walking over the device in bare feet depresses first one platform and then the other, thus causing a fine spray of the medicinal preparation to be projected against the feet and between the toes. Shifting of the weight of the body from one foot to the other causes alternate operation of the spraying atomizers. 'I'he solution draining from the platforms I5 passes downwardly over the drain shield or cover II onto the `floor from which it passes to the sewer in the usual way. In this way the feet of the user will be subjected to a fresh, clean, full strength spray of medicinal preparation unalfected by the amount of use and uncontaminated by previous contact with diseased or infected feet. Being completely enclosed, the apparatus can be easily cleaned of any litter or refuse dropped on it and the supply of medicinal preparation cannot become diluted from drainage from the feet or polluted with dirt, lint, cigarette butts, matches and other debris. If inflammable or explosive medicinal preparations are used, they quickbr evaporate or drain away and the main supply is of course entirely enclosed so as to reduce the re hazard. The specific formand arrangement of parts disclosed is a simple and effective one for the purpose.

While I have illustrated and` described the preferred form of construction for carrying the invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modiflcations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising an openwork downwardly yielding, spring held platform; an air compressing cylinder arranged under said platform; a piston arranged in said cylinder to be operated by downward movement 20 of said platform; a closed tank arranged under said platform; and an atomizer having its air tube connected with said air compressing cylinder and arranged to spray a foot on said platform, the liquid intake tube'for said atomizer opening into and receiving supply from said tank.

2. Apparatus of the classvdescribed comprising two openwork downwardly yielding, spring held platforms arranged adjacent each other; an air compressing cylinder arranged under each of said platforms; a piston arranged in each o! said cylinders to be operated by downward movements of its associated platform; a closed tank arranged under said platforms; and an atomizer arranged under each platform and having its air tube operatively connected with the corresponding air compressing cylinder and its liquid intake tube communicating with and receiving supply from the said tank.

WILLIAM C. RAST. 

